Peter john spracklen



(No Model.)

P. J. SPRAGKLEN.

vNo. 591,507.

GAROUSBL.

Patented ot. 12,1897.

ATTRNEYS.

n: norms Pains co. vuofaunm wAsnmarou, u. c.

l UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

PETER JOI-IN SPRAOKLEN, OFKENTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR THOMSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TO BESSIE W.

CARO U S-E L.

'srncIFIoATIoN forming part of Lettere Patent No. 591,507, aerea october 12, 1,897. Applica-tion iiled December 11, 1896. VSerial No. 615,285. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

' Be it known that I, PETER JOHN SPRAox- LEN, of Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Carousel, of which the following is 'a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to that class of carousels in which the motive power is manual and applied by pedals or other devices operated by the feet of the person riding.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination' of parts here-V inafter described, and defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication,

in which similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. p

My invention', as shown in the drawings, has a base 4-,Y-whereon a standard 5 is kxed. yA beam 6 is'pivoted atits middle on the standard 5 and bears on the plate 7, rested on the base 4. The upper end of the standard 5 has a collar 8, whereon is rested a beam 9, pivoted at its middle on the standard 5. The beams 6 and 9 are connected to eachother at each end by means of two vertical braces 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This provides a 'rigid framework turning around the standard 5 and forming the movable portion or frame of the carousel. Two diagonal struts 11 are arranged at each end of this frame and extend from one beam thereof to the other, so as to render the frame more rigid.

Fixed to the beam 6 are two standards 12, onlyone of which is shown -in the drawings, each of which has a horizontally-disposed sleeve 13 fixed to its upper end. The standards 12 are respectively located on each side of the standard 5, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Extending parl lel with the beam 6 'and respectively slidable in the sleeves 13 are rods 14, and the inner end of each rod is provided with a fork 15. Each fork 15 carries two pawls 16, which are oppositely disposed on each fork 15, and each pair of pawls is spring-pressed against ratchetwheels 17 fixed to the standard 5. When one of the rods 14 reciprooates inward, one of the pawls 16, carried 'on the fork 15 of said rod, will engage its corresponding ratchet-wheel 17 and push the frame, composed of the beams 6 and 9 and the parts carried thereby, around the standard 5causing the frame of the carousel to make a partial revolution. Upon the return of the rod 14 the other pawl of its fork 15 will be drawn against the correspond? ing ratchet-wheel17 and the frame will be further advanced around the standard 5.

Each end of the beam'Q is provided with a seat 18,whereon the passengers may be seated. Projecting downwardly and laterally from the upper ends of the braces 10 are arms 19, strengthened by braces 20, extending between the lower portions of the arms 19 and the braces 10, as shown in Fig. 3. Journaled in the lower extremities of each pair of arms 19 is apedal-'shaft 21, the terminals of the shafts 21 projecting beyondy the arms Y19, and each terminal is provided with a crank 22, to which a link 23 is pivoted.

YEach pair of links 23 is universally connected to a T-shaped rod 24. The links 23 are respectively connected to the ends of the head of the T, formed by each rod 24, while the outermost end of the other arln of the T, formed by each rod 24, is pivoted on a vertical axis to the outer end of the respective rod 14. The rotation of the pedal-shafts 21 will impart a rocking movement to the rods 24, which in turn respectively reciprocate the rods 14, causing the pawls 16 to act on the wheels 17, as previously described. By these means the carousel is operated.

It will be seen that the vertical pivots between the rods 24 and the rods 14 will support the rods 24 horizontally on the rods, which in turn are supported horizontally in the sleeves 13. Therefore the rods 24, rocking under the influence of the pedal-shafts 21, will impart the proper movement to the rods 14.

It is obvious that the number of rods 14 and their appurtenant uparts may be increased or diminished at will.

It is possible to dispense with the rod 24, which is attached tothe end of each pedalshaft, and to attach a wheel to the inside end of the pedal-shafts and connect a rod by means of a wrist-pin to this wheel at the end IOO of the pedal-shaft. The rod is attached to a pawl extending at right angles to the rod. By such a modification the same purpose that is attained by the use of the rod 24 is accomplished.

It is further possible to use a ratchet and pawl with the ratchet placed around the post and with the teeth on the upper side of the wheel,as shown in the patent to Jacob Muller, No. 551,782, dated December 24:, 1895.

I can also use a ratchet and pawl in connection with the other features of the invention, the ratchet to be placed on the outside edge of the ratchet-wheel and around the post.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a base, of a standard rising therefrom, two beams intermediately mounted to turn on the standard, the beams being connected at each end b v means of two vertical braces, an arm projecting downwardly and laterally from the upper portion of each brace, a double shaft journaled in the lower portion of each pair of arms, a crank at each end of each double shaft, a link connected to each crank, a T-shaped rod, to two ends of each of which the links are respectively connected, two standards rising from the lower beam and respectively on each side of the standard which rises from the base, a sleeve carried by the upper end of each of the standards on the beam, a rod running through each sleeve, the rods having their outer ends respectively connected to the remaining end of the T-shaped rods, a pawl connected to the inner end of each rod, and two ratchet-wheels ixed on the standard of the base and engaged by the pawls, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a base, of a standard rising therefrom,a frame swinging around the standard, a sleeve held rigidly on the frame, a rod sliding in the sleeve and radially with reference to the standard, a pawl carried by the rod, a ratchet-wheel fixed to the standard, a shaft revolubly mounted in the frame and having two cranks,a T-shaped rod one extremity of which is pivoted to the sliding rod, and two rigid links respectively connected to the cranks and to the remaining ends of the T-shaped rod, substantially as described.

- PETER JOHN SPRACKLEN.

Witnesses:

JAMES RAY STILLINGs, JOHN STILLINGs. 

